Climate Change & Sustainability Coordinator, Palm Beach County 4/24/2017 Climate Change – Human Health Considerations Palm Beach County Medical Society Natalie Schneider Climate Change & Sustainability Coordinator, Palm Beach County September 18, 2015
Commitment and Leadership 4/24/2017 Commitment and Leadership Building Community Resilience by addressing environmental sustainability and climate change considerations in its programs and services.
What are we talking about? 4/24/2017 What are we talking about? Climate change – the planet is warming, and over the last half century, this warming has been driven primarily by human activity— predominantly the burning of fossil fuels Climate Resiliency – implementing adaptive measures to reduce a community’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Sustainability – ensuring we have and will continue to have the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.
Impacts on Society Human health Agriculture and food security 4/24/2017 Impacts on Society Human health Agriculture and food security Water supply Ecosystems and the environment Transportation Energy Flooding in Deer Run due to Tropical Storm Isaac 2012
Threats to Southeast Florida 4/24/2017 Threats to Southeast Florida Impacts to public and private infrastructure Impacts on water supplies Compromised natural systems
Genesis of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact 4/24/2017 Genesis of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Shared recognition of regional vulnerabilities and challenges Low-lying coastal community Environment and economy shaped by water Common airshed, watershed, climate, and natural resources Regional transportation system Concurrent, but uncoordinated efforts
Challenges Need to understand Impacts: Rate of sea level rise 4/24/2017 Challenges Need to understand Impacts: Rate of sea level rise Changes in precipitation patterns Temperatures increases Need to operate in multiple timeframes: Immediate: Compact Action Items Long Term: Compact projections Need to both adapt and mitigate: Adapt: accommodate, retreat or protect Mitigate: reduce greenhouse gasses and their production Need to promote education and awareness: Multiple departments and agencies Multiple local governments Multiple stakeholders
Unified SLR Projection 4/24/2017 Unified SLR Projection
Vulnerable Areas Regional Maps Assessment 1-, 2-, and 3-foot scenarios 4/24/2017 Vulnerable Areas Regional Maps 1-, 2-, and 3-foot scenarios Assessment Water infrastructure Bridges and roads School and hospitals Taxable real estate Add Example Vulnerability map of county or Good Sam inundation here? Potential inundation is much less in Palm Beach County than to counties to the south Good Samaritan Hospital
Impacts on Human Health 4/24/2017 Impacts on Human Health
SE Florida Regional Climate Action Plan 4/24/2017 SE Florida Regional Climate Action Plan Health Impact Assessment Completed March 2014 Produced by Florida Public Health Institute (support from Urban Health Solutions, Broward County and the SEFRCCC) Focus on 110 recommendations from the RCAP relating to SLR and heat waves and how would impact human health Download at www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org
What we are doing Regional Workshops Compact Working Groups Stormwater Management Transportation State/Regional Collaborations Resilient Redesign – Round II Compact Working Groups SLR Projection Shoreline Resilience Compact Structure Climate Indicators Municipal Workgroup GHG Emissions Inventory Partnership with Florida Climate Institute 2015 Summit hosted by Monroe County
What can Health Professionals do 4/24/2017 What can Health Professionals do Inform colleagues and the wider community Set an example Advocate Seek innovative approaches Sun Sentinel
Questions/Resources 4/24/2017 SEFRCCC – Regional Climate Action Plan – Health Impact Assessment http://southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org WHO - Training course for public health professionals on protecting our health from climate change http://www.who.int/globalchange/training/health_ professionals/en/ National Climate Assessment – Human Health Chapter http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/ human-health